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Procalcitonin (PCT) is a substance produced by the body in response to bacterial infections. It is a precursor of the hormone calcitonin, but unlike calcitonin, procalcitonin levels increase significantly during bacterial infections, making it a useful biomarker for detecting and monitoring such infections.

Purpose of the Procalcitonin Test:

• Diagnose bacterial infections: Procalcitonin levels rise rapidly when the body is fighting a bacterial infection, making it a helpful marker for distinguishing bacterial infections from viral infections, which usually don’t cause a significant rise in procalcitonin.
• Assess the severity of infection: Higher levels of procalcitonin can indicate a more severe or widespread infection, such as sepsis or pneumonia.
• Monitor treatment response: In patients receiving antibiotics, procalcitonin levels can be used to track how well the body is responding to treatment. A decrease in procalcitonin levels often suggests the infection is improving.

Common Uses:

• Sepsis: Procalcitonin levels can help diagnose sepsis, a life-threatening response to infection, and determine the need for antibiotics.
• Pneumonia: It is used to assess bacterial pneumonia and help differentiate it from viral forms of the disease.
• Acute bacterial infections: Procalcitonin levels can be elevated in conditions like urinary tract infections, meningitis, and other systemic bacterial infections.

Normal vs. Abnormal Results:

• Normal levels: Procalcitonin levels are typically low in healthy individuals, generally below 0.1 ng/mL.
• Elevated levels: A rise in procalcitonin levels suggests a bacterial infection. Very high levels (above 2 ng/mL) may indicate a severe bacterial infection like sepsis.